Spring is in the air…..again!
What a week! One day cold and the next sunny, we put out the pot plants then bring them in again, wear short sleeves then back to donning our coats, hats and gloves…. what gives? Spring weather that’s what, together with some very welcome rains for our gardens. Flowers and shrubs are blooming everywhere, including our lovely dogwoods. The return of chirping birds of every species is an added bonus to this time of the year.
What a week! One day cold and the next sunny, we put out the pot plants then bring them in again, wear short sleeves then back to donning our coats, hats and gloves…. what gives? Spring weather that’s what, together with some very welcome rains for our gardens. Flowers and shrubs are blooming everywhere, including our lovely dogwoods. The return of chirping birds of every species is an added bonus to this time of the year.
See how they grow!
The Commissary’s garden selection is now on sale and it includes:
Dragon Lily (dracunculus vulgaris) also called Voodoo Lily, or Snake Lily. They're a true Victorian-era exotic, extremely showy (and a bit smelly) and extremely easy to grow and multiply.
Rare Heirloom Gladiolus bulbs - Maid of the Mist and Parrot - Plant anytime from now through May. Multiply easily and are deer resistant.
Tatarian Aster (aka Michaelmas Daisies) They bloom all over Rugby in September and can reach 5-6 feet in height.
English Primrose - Now in full bloom around Rugby. Another easy to grow and quick to multiply heirloom, blooming in Rugby for more than 90 years.
Church Model Presented
A scale model of Christ Church, designed and crafted by Lee Antoine of Henderson Tennessee was presented to Christ Church on Saturday, April 18, according to John Hicks. John says "thanks" to Historic Rugby for referring Mr. Antoine to the church. See John if you have questions and ideas about displaying the model.
The photo from Lavonne Gibbs shows the church model - with John Hicks for scale!.
Prayer Quilt
Kathy Hicks, Senior Warden at Christ Church, says that two prayer quilts were blessed and tied Sunday during the worship service at Christ Church. One was for a church member recovering from surgery and the other was for the son of a dear friend of the quilting group. In the past three years 14 quilts have been pieced tied and given away. The quilts are outward symbols of prayers for someone in need.
Prayer Quilt
Kathy Hicks, Senior Warden at Christ Church, says that two prayer quilts were blessed and tied Sunday during the worship service at Christ Church. One was for a church member recovering from surgery and the other was for the son of a dear friend of the quilting group. In the past three years 14 quilts have been pieced tied and given away. The quilts are outward symbols of prayers for someone in need. The photo from Lavonne Gibbs shows Kathy Hicks, Jodye Weiler and Helen Keese working on one of the quilts.
Spirit of Red Hill Reopens
From Donna Heffner & Annie Patterson:
Spirit of Red Hill Reopens
From Donna Heffner & Annie Patterson:
“Spirit of Red Hill will be opening for the 2009 season on Saturday, May
2 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. We'll be resuming our regular hours of operation
of each Friday, Saturday and Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sundays
noon to 5:00 p.m. Sure are looking forward to seeing everyone again and
becoming more of a regular part of Rugby's day-to-day scene - we've
missed you all!”
New Gal In Town
Have you seen Lennie Mae’s yet? She’s newly re-vamped, sparkling with color and gives a warm welcome to Rugby tourists.” Lennie Mae’s” is the newly redecorated two-bedroom cottage owned by Gail of Gail’s Paints in Jamestown. For only $85.00 a night, plus taxes, you can have all the comforts of home and a beautiful view of the adjacent Big South Fork National Park. For full details call (931) 879-5899 or e-mail gailswall@twlakes.net
Sincere Condolences
35th Festival of British & Appalachian Culture
Historic Rugby still has outdoor and indoor spaces available for vendors wishing to participate in this historic arts and crafts event on Saturday, May16 and Sunday, May 17, 2009. This will be the perfect venue to choose a hand-crafted Mother’s Day gift for Mom too! Call Rita at The Commissary (423) 628-5166 for full details. If you don’t already have accommodation booked with Historic Rugby or Grey Gables, the Trumbos’ “Artist Loft” self-catering apartment is available for the whole week-end.
Maypoles & Childhood Memories…
…Is the theme of Grey Gables Luncheon-Tea from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 6, 2009. Cost is $10.00 per person plus tax & gratuities. Call Linda at (423) 628-5252 for reservations.
Mother’s Day Week-End
Book early for lodging and dining reservations as Rugby’s accommodation is booking up fast. Grey Gables has a Mother-Daughter Special on Sunday May 10, call Linda at (423) 628-5252 for information and reservations.
Upcoming Workshops
On Saturday, April 25 there are two workshops. One is an oil painting class instructed by Rugby artist Mara Trumbo which is titled the "Iris", Tennessee's State Flower.
The other workshop is “Tennessee Toads Throughout the Year” which includes a slide and sound program as well as a walk around Rugby listening and identifying frogs and toads.
For information on costs, contents and registration for any of the workshops call The Commissary at (423) 628-5166.
Birthdays
April 27 – Douglas Cooksey
Calendar of Events
May 2 – Community Potluck at 7:00 p.m. Eastern
May 16 & 17 – Festival of British & Appalachian Culture. Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Exercise Group – Monday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
Quilters Group - Wed. and Sat. 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern at the Friendly House
Nature Notes
By Linda Konig
One of the greatest joys of spring is that nature again makes music with birdsong, insects’ buzzing, and frogs’ sounds of croaking, peeping, plunking, snoring, bleating, quacking, etc.
We’re indeed fortunate to have about 12 different kinds of frogs in and around Rugby. Not only is it fun to listen for these, but it’s a good sign of the health of our environment here on the Plateau. These various frog species are spread out from late winter through early autumn. Any one particular puddle or pond won’t have all of them.
We’re indeed fortunate to have about 12 different kinds of frogs in and around Rugby. Not only is it fun to listen for these, but it’s a good sign of the health of our environment here on the Plateau. These various frog species are spread out from late winter through early autumn. Any one particular puddle or pond won’t have all of them.
Not only does each species have its own unique love call, but some frogs have special calls that say, “Back off, Buster! You’re on my territory!” or “Wanta fight? I can beat you with one foot behind my back!” Incidentally, with frogs the males do all the talking. The females are silent. Can you imagine how deafening spring would be if the females were yelling, too?
We’ll have a great opportunity this coming Saturday [see the workshop calendar below] to hear and see some of our frog neighbors when Bob English, Tennessee’s foremost expert on frogs, comes to Rugby. Join us as we learn to appreciate these wonderful, humorous creatures.
We need to learn more about frogs NOW because worldwide their numbers are decreasing. Frogs have been compared to the canaries that miners used to keep in mines to warn of dangerous gases. Frogs’ declining numbers may be warning us that our environment is becoming too toxic.
We need to learn more about frogs NOW because worldwide their numbers are decreasing. Frogs have been compared to the canaries that miners used to keep in mines to warn of dangerous gases. Frogs’ declining numbers may be warning us that our environment is becoming too toxic.
HRI Workshops
(For more details about workshops go to Historic Rugby Website at historicrugby.org)
April 25 – Oil Painting Tennessee’s State Flower “The Iris,” 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Instructor: Mara Trumbo. Cost $58 all inclusive of canvas and materials.
April 25 - Tennessee’s Frogs and Toads Throughout the Year (New) 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Instructor: Bob English. Only $10, sign up soon!
May 2 - Bark Basketry (New) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Instructor: Fuzzy Orange Cost = $30 per adult - $55 Adult + 1 Child
May 30 - Lessons With The Mountain Dulcimer – Novice/Intermediate 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Instructor: June Goforth. Cost = $30.
May 30 - Nature Night Safari 8:30 p.m. until… Instructor: Linda Konig. Cost $8
TO REGISTER FOR WORKSHOPS:
Call (423) 628-2441 or Toll-Free 1-888-214-3400. Lodging is available at Historic Rugby with a 10% discount to all workshop participants.
Call (423) 628-2441 or Toll-Free 1-888-214-3400. Lodging is available at Historic Rugby with a 10% discount to all workshop participants.
This Week’s Editor = Mara Trumbo
